Pneumatic cleaning device for centrosymmetrical textile machines



Aug. 5, 1969 H. FERRI 3,

PNEUMATIC CLEANING DEVICE FOR CENTROSYMMETRICAL TEXTILE MACHINES Filed Aug. 7. 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet. 1

:UWGMTOE: Hnus Fem Aug. 5, 1969 H. FERRI 3,459,010

7 PNEUMATIC CLEANING DEVICE FOR CENTROSYMME'IRICAL TEXTILE MACHINES Filed Aug. '2. 19s? 2 Sheets-Sheet-Z Fig. 4 so .zyww' HAN) 5114i United States Pate r 3,459,010 PNEUMATIC CLEANING EVICE FOR 'CENTRO- SYMMETRICAL TEXTILE MACHINES Hans Ferri, Uster, Switzerland, assignor to Luwa AG, a corporation of Switzerland Filed Aug. 7, 1967, Ser. No. 658,911 Claims priority, application Switzerland, Aug. 10, 1966, 11,534/66 Int. Cl. D0411) 35/32; A471 5/38 U.S. Cl. 66168 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A pneumatic cleaning device for substantially centrosymmetrical textile machines having a substantially vertical axis, in particular for the cleaning of the creel of a circular knitting machine. The inventive pneumatic cleaning device embodies a blower means having a pressure side and a suction side. A blower arm means which is rotatable about a substantially vertical axis is provided at the pressure side of the aforementioned blower means. Such blower arm means is equipped with blower nozzle means. Further, an air filter means is operably connected at the region of the suction side of the blower means. Also, a housing is mounted for rotation about the vertical axis of the textile machine, said housing being rigidly connected for rotation with said blower arm means. Additionally, such housing possesses an air inlet opening which is limited in the circumferential direction thereof and said air inlet opening faces towards the blower arm means, with said air filter means covering said air inlet opening. The inventive pneumatic cleaning device further includes means for delivering a portion of the air conveyed by said blower means to a load or consumer which is spatially separated from the aforementioned blower arm means.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention pertains to an improved pneumatic cleaning device for substantially centralor centrosymmetrical textile machines, in particular for the cleaning of the creel of a circular knitting machine.

Just as with all types of textile machines, the problem of maintaining the machine parts or components clean, particularly the yarn guide members, free of dust, fly, fibers, and fuzzy materialsometirnes conveniently referred to hereinafter as contaminants also exists with circular knitting machines. Up to the present it is standard procedure to blow off the machine with a stream of compressed air. However, when doing such it is necessary to shutdown the machine in order to prevent the contaminants from becoming embedded in the knitting or knitted material. It should be obvious that during such blowing ofi of the machine, dust, fibers and the like are blown around in the air. This is not only disturbing to the operating personnel for the machine but such dust, fibers and other contaminants tend to again settle upon' the neighboring machines. A drawback of this type of cleaning technique not only resides in the loss in production due to the frequent shutdown or switching off of the machine, but further, there is required a workman for the blowing off operation. Apart from this, the further significant disadvantage exists that the contaminantions or impurities are merely displaced during blowing off of the machine, not however finally removed from the working area.

An automatic operating cleaning device for a knitting machine is indeed already known to the art. Such prior art cleaning device embodies a blower arm which revolves about a vertical axis. This blower arm is equipped with 3,459,010 Patented Aug. 5, 1969 blower or discharge nozzles which are directed radially inwards and deflect air currents onto the creel. Such cleaning device also possesses a blower impeller. Further, the creel is disposed within the rotational path of the blower arm and is constructed in known manner to be centrosymmetrical. A cylindrical filter member is located at the center of the creel. This filter member is connected to the suction side of a blower. The air conveyed by the blower is delivered to the blower arm.

However, it has been found that this known cleaning device does not provide the expected advantages since the dust which is circulated due to the blow off does not arrive in suflicient degree at the filter. On the contrary, a portion of this dust is displaced into the area surrounding the machine. Consequently, this cleaning device is not able to obtain the desired dust dilution and its cleaning action is therefore insuflicient. Even by increasing the suction capacity of the blower it was only possible to partially compromise this drawback, apart from the fact that the undertaking of this measure itself resulted in increased energy costs. Furthermore, an increase of the suction capacity or efliciency cannot be obtained without considerable structural changes at the knitting machine owing to the limited space at the creel of the circular knitting machine. Additionally, the increase of the suction capacity also results in an increase of the blower action of the suction nozzles which, in turn, is associated with an increased circulation or blowing around of fly and dust, without however appreciably reducing the dust content of the air.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide improved pneumatic cleaning device which is capable of effectively overcoming the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art.

Another, more specific object of the present invention relates to an improved pneumatic cleaning device which is relatively simple in construction, easy to install at textile machines, extremely trouble-free in operation, and capable of effectively removing contaminants such as fibers, dirt, lint, dust, fly, fuzzy material and the like from the associated textile machine.

Yet a further significant object of this invention relates to an improved pneumatic cleaning device which effectively removes contaminants from an associated textile machine, without the danger of blowing such contaminants around in the air with subsequent settling on neighboring textile machines.

Now, in order to achieve these and still further objects of the invention which will become more readily apparent as the description proceeds, the inventive cleaning device is equipped with a blower means having a pressure side and a suction side. A blower arm means rotatable about a substantially vertical axis is provided at the pressure side of the aforesaid blower means, such blower arm means being equipped with blower nozzle means. An air filter means is operably connected in front of the suction side of the blower means. According to one significant aspect of the present invention there is provided a housing which is mounted for rotation about the vertical axis of the textile machine. This housing is rigidly connected for rotation with the blower arm means, and such housing possesses an air inlet opening which is limited in the circumferential direction thereof. The aforesaid air inlet opening faces towards the blower arm means, and the air filter means covers such air inlet opening. Additionally, the inventive pneumatic cleaning device is provided with means for delivering a portion of the air conveyed by the blower means to a load or consumer which is spatially separated from the blower arm means.

Owing to the rotatable arrangement of the filter it is possible to considerably reduce its surface or area, so that the suction efiiciency of the blower means, while increasing the depth effect of the suction zone, concentrates upon the peripheral zone confronting the blower nozzle means. Additionally, it is possible to increase the suction efficiency independently of the blower action of the blower nozzle means, since a portion of the conveyed air is delivered to one or more loads or consumers. Therefore, it need not be feared that the blower nozzle means will circulate or blow around in uncontrolled fashion the dust or other contaminants which cannot be entrained by the filter surface.

A radial inwardly directed suction mouthpiece is preferably provided outside of the rotational path of travel of the filter. This suction mouthpiece is periodically or continuously operably connected with a suitable negativeor low pressure source and can clean the filter during its rotational motion. A constant suction efiiciency of the blower means is insured by the automatic cleaning of the filter, and further, it is possible to prevent stopping of the machine in order to clean the filter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be better understood, and objects other than those set forth above, will become apparent, when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings depicting two exemplary embodiments of inventive cleaning devices for a circular knitting machine, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 schematically illustrates in elevational view the upper region of a circular knitting machine equipped with a preferred embodiment of inventive cleaning device shown in elevational section;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the cleaning device depicted in FIGURE 1, with the components of the circular knitting machine conveniently omitted in order to preserve clarity in illustration;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view of a second embodiment of inventive cleaning device; and

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view of the cleaning device depicted in FIGURE 3, taken along the line 4-4 thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Describing now the drawings, in FIGURE 1 reference numeral 1 designates a creel forming the upper portion of a conventional circular knitting machine C. Yarn or thread spools 3 are mounted upon a creel ring 2a supported at a crossbeam 2 of the creel 1. The yarn or thread Y is paid off from the spools 3 and guided past fork stop motion means 5 and electric yarn detecting means 6 which are secured to a yarn monitoring or detecting ring member 4. In so doing, the yarn Y passes through knot catcher means 9 secured to the rod means 8, the latter being connected to a ring member 7, as shown. Beneath the crossbeam 2 there is disposed, in the conventional manner, the yarn delivery mechanism 11 equipped with the disk members 12, the eyelets 13 and 15 and the delivery gear means 14. Thereafter, the yarn Y arrives at the conventional needle cam means 16 of the circular knitting machine C through the agency of the yarn deflecting rollers 17 secured to the creel ring 2a.

Continuing, it will be recognized that a substantially cylindrical housing 22 of a circular blower 21 is arranged between the crossbeam 2 and the knot catcher ring member 7 substantially coaxial with respect to the vertical machine axis. Further, a blower arm means 23 is connected to the upper end of the housing 22. This blower arm means 23 extends coaxially upwards with respect to the machine axis and past the yarn monitoring ring member 4. This blower arm means 23 then makes two substantially 90 turns, as indicated by the elbow portions 23a and 23b, finally to again extend vertically downward externally of the creel 1, as indicated by the arm portion 230. This downwardly extending arm portion 230 terminates approximately at the height of the yarn deflecting rollers 17.

The housing 22 is internally provided with substantially horizontally extending, reinforcing support crossbeams 24 and 25 which are connected to the cylindrical wall 22a. The lower support crossbeam 25 carries a stub shaft 26 which supports the housing 22 in a radial-axial-bearing means 27. This bearing means 27 is connected to a support 28 which, in turn, braces itself upon the crossbeam 2. A suitable electric drive motor 29 is attached to a vertically extending sheet metal support member 30 which interconnects both of the support crossbcams 24 and 25. This electric drive motor or drive means 29 has its drive shaft or axis 29a extending horizontally. Drive shaft 29:: is coupled with a horizontally extending shaft or axis 31a of a blower impeller 31, so as to drive the latter by the electric drive motor 29. The blower impeller 31 is provided with a ring diffuser 44 which is rigidly connected for rotation therewith. As best shown in FIGURE 1, this blower impeller 31 and the associated ring diffuser 44 are located at the opposite side of the sheet metal support plate or member 30. An inlet nozzle 32 is connected at the inner wall 22a of the housing 22 in front of the blower impeller 31. The wall 22a of the housing 22 is broken through or cutaway at the region of the inlet nozzle 32 to provide an opening 221: which is covered by a suitable filter member 33.

The upper end 22c of the housing 22 is mounted at the blower arm means 23. A number of rollers 36 secured to a support ring 35 engage with the aforesaid upper end 220 of the housing 22. The support ring 35 is carried by the knot catcher ring member 7. The lower end of the housing 22 is obturated by a base ring 42 secured to the support member 28. A non-illustrated labyrinth seal arrangement prevents passage of air through the annular gap 42a between the housing wall 22a and the base ring 42. A blower connecting pipe 43 is connected with the base ring 42 and extends to further loads or consumers, for instance the delivery mechanism 14 or the nozzles associated with the needle cams 16.

A suction head or mouthpiece 37 is arranged externally of the revolving path of travel of the housing 22 and the filter member 33. This suction head or mouthpiece 37 is connected via a conduit 38 with a non-illustrated negative or low-pressure source. If the circular knitting machine C is provided with a needle field suction device, then it is advantageous to also connect this conduit 38 to the low pressure source of this suction device.

Further, the blower arm means 23 is equipped at the region of the locations of the creel 1 which are to be cleaned with a number of approximately radially inwardly directed blower nozzles 40. Although for the sake of clarity in illustration in FIGURE 1 only two nozzles 40 have been illustrated which are operably associated with the knot catcher 9 and the yarn stop motion 5, it is advantageous to also provide further blower nozzles at the region of the crossbeam 2, the spools or bobbins 3 and the yarn deflecting rollers 17.

As clearly shown in FIGURE 2, the blower arm means 23 is displaced with respect to the filter 33 in the circumferential direction, and specifically is displaced forwardly of the housing 22 with respect to the direction of rotation indicated by the arrow 100. The angle enclosed by the vertical central line of the filter 33 and the blower arm means 23 is primarily dependent upon the radial spacing of the blower nozzles 40 at the blower arm means 23 from the surface of the filter 33 as well as upon the peripheral velocity of the aforesaid blower arm means. Apart from being provided with the blower nozzle means 40 the blower arm means 23 further possesses a nozzle member 41 which is rearwardly directed with respect to the direction of rotation of the blower arm means 23. This nozzle member 41 serve to drive the blower arm means 23 and the housing 22. In so doing, the reaction forces which appear upon the escape of the air out of the nozzle member 41 is utilized for the revolving or circulatory drive.

Air is delivered from the pressure compartment 22d of the housing 22 to the blower arm means 23 and then, in turn, flows out of the latter through the drive nozzle member 41 and also through the blower nozzle means 40. Owing to the previously considered displacement or offsetting of the blower arm means 23 with respect to the filter 33 in the circumferential direction, there is taken into account the deflection of the blower air stream out of the nozzle members 40, resulting from the peripheral or circumferential velocity of the blower arm means 23. Notwithstanding this deflection the air, which sweeps across the components of the creel 1 which are to be cleaned, arrives at the region of the filter 33 and at the region of the suction air stream which is effective in front of this filter.

A further portion of the air emanating from the hous ing 22 leaves the latter via the blower connecting pipe 43 and serves, for instance in cooperation with a needle field suction device of the delivery mechanism 11 and the needle cam means 16, for the continuous cleaning of the working area or zone of the circular knitting machine C. The ratio of the quantity of blower air which emanates from the blower arm means 23 and the connecting pipe 43 can be regulated by non-illustrated shutters or diaphragms or equivalent structure. The quantity of air guided through the connecting pipe 43 is preferably a number of times larger than the quantity of air flowing through the blower arm means 23. However, it is also possible to provide at the blower arm means 23 further upwardly directed openings. Since the quantity of air flowing through the filter 33 is considerably greater than the quantity of air leaving the blower arm means 23 by means of the nozzle members 40, a relatively intensive suction air current results in front of the filter 33. This intensive suction air current is capable of seizing and holding against the filter surface all of the contaminants carried by the blower air currents. During each revolution of the housing 22 the filter 33 is cleaned or freed of the contaminants adhering thereto by virtue of the action of the suction head or mouthpiece 37. As a result, there is insured for a constant suction action through the filter 33 and periodic stopping of the machine for cleaning the filter is no longer necessary.

Although in the exemplary depicted embodiment of inventive cleaning apparatus the electric motor 29 and therefore also the blower impeller 31 revolve together with the housing 22, it is also possible to stationarily mount this electric motor, that is, to fixedly support such upon the crossbeam 2 for instance.

Such an embodiment is shown in FIGURES 3 and 4 of the drawings. More precisely, in FIGURE 3 reference numeral 50 designates a base plate of a housing assembly H. This base plate is braced or supported upon pedestals or supports 51 which are distributively arranged upon the crossbeam 2. The base plate 50, formed by a circular disk or plate, carries an upright inner casing 52 which, as best shown in FIGURE 4, forms a cylinder which is flattened at one side, as indicated by reference numeral 52a. This inner casing 52, which provides an inner stationary housing member, carries at its upper end a cover plate member 53. At the beveled region 52a of the inner casing 52 there is provided an opening 55 which is laterally bounded by an inlet nozzle 54. This opening 55 forms the inlet to a radial blower wheel or impeller 56. This impeller 56 is seated upon the motor shaft 57 of a suitable electric motor 59 supported internally of the inner casing 52 at a frame unit 58.

The inner casing 52 is encircled by a radially spaced outer casing or hood member 60 which is open at its lower end 60a. The inner casing 52 and the outer casing 60 as well as the base plate 50 mounted with play with regard to the inner diameter of the outer casing 60 and also the cover plate 53 limit or bound an annular-shaped suction compartment 61. This suction compartment 61 communicates with the surrounding atmosphere by means of a suction opening 62 provided in the side wall 6% of the outer casing 60. This suction opening 62 is equipped with an air filter 63.

Continuing, it will be recognized that the suction compartment 61 communicates via the inlet opening 55 with the pressure compartment 64 containing the blower impeller 56. A substantially pipe-shaped or tubular blower arm 66, secured to the outer house 60, extends into the pressure compartment 64 by means of a central opening 65 provided at the cover plate 53 The blower arm means 66, supplied with blower air from the pressure compartment 64, essentially corresponds to the blower arm means 23 considered with regard to FIGURES 1 and 2. Once again, the blower nozzle means 67 of the blower arm means 66 are appropriately aligned with their respective axes substantially directed towards the suction opening 62 in the manner previously explained. The rotatable outer housing 60, which can be provided with a counterweight in order to balance the weight of the blower arm means 66 which acts at one side of such outer housing 60, bears upon the cover plate 53' through the agency of a non-illustrated bearing or support means. Further, in order to reduce the bearing friction it would also be possible to withdraw compressed air out of the pressure compartment 64. Furthermore, a non-illustrated seal arrangement can be preferably provided at the annular gap 50a between the outer housing 60 and the base plate 50, in order to prevent sucking of fiber dust or the like through this annular gap.

Cleaning of the air filter 63 preferably takes place in the manner described in connection with the previous embodiment of FIGURE 1. In other words, there can also be provided a suction mouthpiece, similar to mouthpiece 37 of FIGURE 1, which is likewise arranged at a negative or low pressure source and by means of which the surface of the filter 63 is cleaned during each rotation.

Similar to the pipe member 43 of FIGURE 1, also in this embodiment a corresponding pipe member 68 is operably connected via a central opening 69 in the base plate 50 with the pressure compartment 64 in order to conduct blower air to the needle field.

The heretofore described embodiments of inventive cleaning devices can be, of course, employed not only for circular knitting machines, but can be also used to advantage for other textile machines which are constructed to be centrally symmetrical.

While there is shown and described present preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto, but may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced Within the scope of the following claims.

Accordingly, What is claimed is:

1. A pneumatic cleaning device for substantially centrosymmetrical textile machines having a substantially vertical axis, in particular for the cleaning of the creel of a circular knitting machine, comprising, in combination,

(a) blower means having a pressure side and a suction side;

(b) blower arm means rotatable about a substantially vertical axis provided at said pressure side of said blower means, said blower arm means being equipped with blower nozzle means;

(c) an air filter means operably connected at the region of said suction side of said blower means;

(d) a housing mounted for rotation about the vertical axis of the textile machine, said holding being rigidly connected for rotation with said blower arm means, said housing having an air inlet opening which is limited in the circumferential direction of said housing, said air inlet opening facing towards said blower arm means, said air filter means covering said air inlet opening; and

(e) means for delivering a portion of the air conveyed by said blower means to a load which is spatially separated from said blower arm means.

2. A pneumatic cleaning device as defined in claim 1, wherein said air filter means moves through a predetermined rotational path of travel, an approximately radially directed suction mouthpiece disposed outside of and adjacent said rotational path of travel of said air filter means, said suction mouthpiece being adapted to be operably connected with a negative pressure source.

3. A pneumatic cleaning device as defined in claim 1, further including drive means for said blower means, said housing being constructed to provide a pressure compartment, said drive means and said blower means being disposed in said pressure compartment, said drive means and said blower means having substantially horizontally extending shaft means.

4. A pneumatic cleaning device as defined in claim 1, said housing being constructed to provide a pressure compartment, a further load in the form of a blower connection pipe operably connected with said pressure compartment.

5. A pneumatic cleaning device as defined in claim 1, wherein the respective axes of said blower nozzle means provided at said blower arm means are directed at a location of said rotatable housing which is located in front of said air filter means with regard to the direction of rotation of said rotatable housing.

6. A pneumatic cleaning device as defined in claim 1, further including an internal stationary housing member disposed inside of said rotatable housing, said internal stationary housing member enclosing a pressure compartment, said rotatable housing being defined by an external casing member surrounding said internal stationary housing member, said external rotatable housing and said internal stationary housing member forming and bounding therebetween a suction compartment.

7. A pneumatic cleaning device as defined in claim 6, wherein said internal stationary housing member is defined by a substantially cylindrical casing.

8. A pneumatic cleaning device for textile machines having a substantially vertical axis, comprising, in combination,

(a) blower means having a pressure side and a suction side;

(b) blower arm means rotatable about a substantially vertical axis provided at said pressure side of said blower means;

(c) an air filter means operably connected at the region of said suction side of said blower means;

(d) a housing mounted for rotation about the vertical axis of the textile machine, said housing being rigidly connected for rotation with said blower arm means, said housing having an air inlet opening, said air inlet opening facing towards said blower arm means, said air filter means covering said air inlet opening.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,357,714 9/1944 Vossen et a1. 66-168 2,846,860 8/1958 Shortland 66-168 3,220,223 11/1965 Schmidt 66168 3,274,803 9/1966 Schmidt 66-168 3,295,338 1/1967 Schmidt 66168 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,273,557 9/1961 France.

RONALD FELDBAUM, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. l5-301 

